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Maarouk

Maarouk
Maarouk bread, garnished with shredded coconut and crushed pistachios
Alternative namesRamadan bread
TypeBread
Region or stateLevant
Associated cuisineSyrian cuisine

Maarouk (Arabic: معروك, romanized: maʿrūk), Marook, or "Ramadan bread", is a traditional Syrian leavened sweet bread common in Levantine cuisine. It is made into a variety of shapes and sizes, and is stuffed with various fillings, it is very popular during the month of Ramadan, and is traditionally stuffed with date paste, and flavored with mahleb.[1][2][3]

History

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A similar, date-stuffed, ring bread is mentioned as "aljerk" in the records from Jerusalem's Islamic court in the 17th century.[4]

It is similar to other leavened breads found in Iraq and Turkey like Çörek, also known as "zherk" (Arabic: جرك), the Iraqi bread has a similar shape and date stuffing to maarouk.[5][4][6][better source needed]

Preparation and Ingredients

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The dough for maarouk typically uses yeast for leavening, eggs and milk are sometimes added in, various spices are incorporated into the dough.[3][4]

The most common stuffing is date palm,[4] a wide array of other fillings are available, including chocolate, qishta, cheese,[7] Biscoff Lotus, coconut, among many others.[8]

Some commons shapes for the bread are rings,[6] braids,[3] and loafs.[1]

The toppings used can vary significantly as well, common additions are sesame seeds,[1] nigella seeds,[3] shredded coconut, and various nuts.[9] Egg wash is also added on top.[4]

Popularity

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Maarouk on a stall in Jerusalem, sold next to Jerusalem bagels
Maarouk seller in Damascus, Syria

Maarouk is immensely popular in Syria, it is a staple of Ramadan cuisine and it is common for customers to line up in bakeries waiting to order it.[1] Its association with Ramadan earned it the name "Ramadan bread".[10][11]

Despite its immense popularity, its availability and consumption have been negatively impacted by the Syrian civil war.[11][8]

Outside of Syria, maarouk is popular in the West bank and Jordan,[12] in Palestine, it is sometimes called nawa'im (Arabic: نواعم).[12][13] Maarouk is also a staple of the Cuisine of Jerusalem, where it is sold on stalls in the Old City of Jerusalem, it is often stuffed with date palm paste and given a yellow color by incorporating turmeric into the mix.[4][6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Abdulrahim, Raja (26 Mar 2025). "A Traditional Ramadan Treat Gets a Modern Remake (but Good Luck Getting It)". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  2. ^ "وصفات الناعم والمعروك والقطائف والكنافة من دمشق… كيف نحلي رمضان ونحن في البيوت؟" [Recipes for na'im, ma'amoul, qatayef, and kunafa from Damascus... How can we sweeten up Ramadan while we're at home?]. Raseef22 (in Arabic). 16 May 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d "How to make this sweet brioche bread from Aleppo". Middle East Eye. 23 May 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Asif Exhibition: A City, Wheat, Bread". Asif. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  5. ^ "الشيف ايمان تقدم طريقة عمل الجرك العراقي" [Chef Iman presents how to make Iraqi Jerk]. Al Gomhuria (in Arabic). 29 September 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  6. ^ a b c "Aljerk (Bread Stuffed With Dates and Spices) Recipe - Michal Bouton and Ana Shapiro". Asif. Retrieved 12 August 2025. The article is available in multiple languages, the Arabic article translates "zherk" as "جرك"
  7. ^ "المعروك... أكلة رمضان التراثية في شمال غربي سورية" [Maarouk... a traditional Ramadan dish in northwestern Syria]. The New Arab. 20 Mar 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  8. ^ a b "الغلاء يبعد حلويات رمضان عن موائد السوريين" [High prices keep Ramadan sweets off Syrian tables]. عنب بلدي (in Arabic). 17 March 2025. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  9. ^ "Traditional Ramadan foods and drinks absent from Aleppo tables". Enab Baladi. 12 April 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  10. ^ ""المعروك"خبز يحلي إفطار الدمشقيين في رمضان" ["Ma'arouk" bread sweetens the breakfast of Damascenes during Ramadan]. alarab.co.uk (in Arabic). Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  11. ^ a b "High cost of maarouk bread reduces its presence on Ramadan tables in Latakia". Enab Baladi. 20 March 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  12. ^ a b "Middle Eastern Date Bread Rings to Add to Your Next Brunch". Twist Travel magazine. 29 December 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  13. ^ "بين نواعم أو كعك السكر.. مشهد الصباح في رام الله لا يكتمل بدونه" [Between Nawaem or sugar cookies... the morning scene in Ramallah is incomplete without it]. CNN Arabic (in Arabic). 3 January 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
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